Re: Who else on here has a Skid Steer?

I have a 2011 Bobcat S650 that I bought new. Attachments include a 72" tooth bucket, pallet forks, root grapple and a tree shear (M&M 16" Hydra Clip w/sprayer). The Bobcat has just under 350 hours on it now and is mostly used for clearing and stacking brush on the ranch (mesquite mostly plus some agarita, cedar - the mesquite stumps need to be sprayed immediately). The Bobcat has a forester package (lexan windshield; protection for lights and exhaust) and is definitely needed for the mesquite. Enclosed cab w/ AC/heat; tires are foam filled; dual electronic controls (hand/feet). Love the machine, use it for all kinds of other stuff. No issues at all with the machine other than steering adjustment at 3 hours (warranty). Grapple (Bobcat brand) has had some issues of blowing hydraulic lines under the guard due to abrasion against fittings. The shear is my second and I got it new. The first one I had was of lesser quality and not as well designed; lots of issues with hydraulic line failures, wiring issues for sprayer and the shear blades were attached with 8 bolts per blade that could never hold the blades in place when cutting old, hard mesquites; plus I cracked the brush guard off 3 times. Traded it in on the new M&M shear. Love the design. Has a catastrophic failure of one of the internal tanks at 13 hours (this shear holds 10 gallons of mix vs 4 for the old one) from a mesquite log getting inside of the rams and cracking welds. Back to the dealer and manufacturer (repaired under warranty; they have redesigned their shear now as a result of my issue) and generally has performed fantastically other than some branches rupturing a hydraulic line or sprayer line. The blades don't get out of adjustment and I can cut much lower to grade without dragging dirt across stump which inhibits effective of herbicide spray. Much more expensive shear but well worth it vs. poor results and downtime of the old one.

I just became a proud owner of an older JD 2240 primarily for shredding but will eventually use it for some minor disking, post hole digging (attachment is less expensive than for skid steer). The JD needed some work, some I had done at a dealer and some myself, but generally she and I are just going through shake down stuff now as I shredded a few acres over the weekend.

All in all I am unbelievably happy with my Bobcat as well as my dealer out of Kerrville, TX (Ranchers); I only wish the that between me and the mesquites that the attachments would hold up better. Need more time doing rather than either me or the dealer fixing. That Mesquite is TUFF STUFF (cleared about 125 acres so far; another 150 to go this year).

Re: Who else on here has a Skid Steer?

I have a 2011 Bobcat S650 that I bought new. Attachments include a 72" tooth bucket, pallet forks, root grapple and a tree shear (M&M 16" Hydra Clip w/sprayer). The Bobcat has just under 350 hours on it now and is mostly used for clearing and stacking brush on the ranch (mesquite mostly plus some agarita, cedar - the mesquite stumps need to be sprayed immediately). The Bobcat has a forester package (lexan windshield; protection for lights and exhaust) and is definitely needed for the mesquite. Enclosed cab w/ AC/heat; tires are foam filled; dual electronic controls (hand/feet). Love the machine, use it for all kinds of other stuff. No issues at all with the machine other than steering adjustment at 3 hours (warranty). Grapple (Bobcat brand) has had some issues of blowing hydraulic lines under the guard due to abrasion against fittings. The shear is my second and I got it new. The first one I had was of lesser quality and not as well designed; lots of issues with hydraulic line failures, wiring issues for sprayer and the shear blades were attached with 8 bolts per blade that could never hold the blades in place when cutting old, hard mesquites; plus I cracked the brush guard off 3 times. Traded it in on the new M&M shear. Love the design. Has a catastrophic failure of one of the internal tanks at 13 hours (this shear holds 10 gallons of mix vs 4 for the old one) from a mesquite log getting inside of the rams and cracking welds. Back to the dealer and manufacturer (repaired under warranty; they have redesigned their shear now as a result of my issue) and generally has performed fantastically other than some branches rupturing a hydraulic line or sprayer line. The blades don't get out of adjustment and I can cut much lower to grade without dragging dirt across stump which inhibits effective of herbicide spray. Much more expensive shear but well worth it vs. poor results and downtime of the old one. And the manufacturer of the shear is also great to work with; if I have an issue I can call the CEO of the small firm and he can give me real life advice as he uses the same one on his ranch in OK. M&M has great customer service.

I just became a proud owner of an older JD 2240 primarily for shredding but will eventually use it for some minor disking, post hole digging (attachment is less expensive than for skid steer). The JD needed some work, some I had done at a dealer and some myself, but generally she and I are just going through shake down stuff now as I shredded a few acres over the weekend.

All in all I am unbelievably happy with my Bobcat as well as my dealer out of Kerrville, TX (Ranchers); I only wish the that between me and the mesquites that the attachments would hold up better. Need more time doing rather than either me or the dealer fixing. That Mesquite is TUFF STUFF (cleared about 125 acres so far; another 150 to go this year).

I have a CAT and like I say, a skid steer id the Victorinox of tractors. Once you go skid steer you never go back - unless you plow fields.<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=314633"/>

Agreed! And once you go from wheels to tracks it gets even better

Bobcat CT235 with Deere Imatch, And a very bad addiction of attachments